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Nickname:
Grand Canyon State
Origin
of name: Uncertain. Perhaps from the O'odham Indian word for “little
spring”
10
largest cities (2005 est.): Phoenix, 1,461,575; Tucson, 515,526; Mesa,
442,780; Glendale, 239,435; Chandler, 234,939; Scottsdale, 226,013; Gilbert,
173,989; Tempe, 161,143; Peoria, 138,200; Yuma, 84,688
Land
area: 113,635 sq mi. (294,315 sq km)
Geographic
center: In Yavapai Co., 55 mi. ESE of Prescott
Number
of counties: 15
Largest
county by population and area: Maricopa, 3,635,528 (2005); Coconino, 18,562
sq mi.
State
parks: 28
Residents:
Arizonan, Arizonian
2005
resident population est.: 5,939,292
2000
resident census population (rank): 5,130,632 (20). Male: 2,561,057
(49.9%); Female: 2,569,575 (50.1%). White: 3,873,611 (75.5%); Black:
158,873 (3.1%); American Indian: 255,879 (5.0%); Asian: 92,236
(1.8%); Other race: 596,774 (11.6%); Two or more races: 146,526
(2.9%); Hispanic/Latino: 1,295,617 (25.3%). 2000 percent population 18
and over: 73.4; 65 and over: 13.0; median age: 34.2.
Arizona
History
The first Native Americans arrived in Arizona between 16,000 BC and 10,000 BCE,
while the history of Arizona as recorded by Europeans began when Marcos de Niza,
a Franciscan, explored the area in 1539. Coronado's expedition entered the area
in 1540–1542 during its search for Cíbola. Padre Eusebio Francisco Kino
developed a chain of missions and taught the Indians Christianity in Pimería
Alta (now southern Arizona and northern Sonora) in the 1690s and early 1700s.
Spain founded fortified towns (presidios) at Tubac in 1752 and Tucson in 1775.
All of present-day Arizona became part of the Mexican State of Vieja California
upon the Mexican assertion of independence from Spain in 1821. The United States
took possession of most of Arizona at the end of the Mexican-American War in
1848. In 1853, the land below the Gila River was acquired from Mexico in the
Gadsden Purchase. Arizona was administered as part of the Territory of New
Mexico until it was organized into a separate territory on February 24, 1863.
Arizona was admitted into the Union—officially becoming a U.S. state—on
February 14, 1912.
Phoenix is the site of a German and Italian prisoner of war camp during World
War II. The site was purchased after the war by the Maytag family and is
currently the Phoenix Zoo. Also located in the state were the War Relocation
Authority's second- and third-largest Japanese American internment camps, Poston
and Gila River.
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Cities:
